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Tell us your bold boss story!

I've known since I was young that I wanted to be a #bosslady one day. While others were dreaming of becoming ballerinas, I was dreaming of becoming a CEO. It didn't matter what I was doing, I knew I wanted to be in charge. Side note/funny story - When I was 4 years old at my dance recital, instead of doing the dance we had all learned in class, I stood on the stage, half did the moves, and told all the other girls where they should be going and what steps they were missing. I guess you can say it's in my nature. My love of weddings and special events came later. My mom has always been quite the entertainer and I remember watching her throw get togethers thinking I want to do this one day. After college, I got a job working as an event manager for a catering company. After a year or two there I told my boss that one day I wanted to plan weddings. She graciously offered to let me start taking on plannings and coordinations through our catering clients. Eventually, I started getting calls for just my services. It was the greatest feeling.

It wasn't until about 2 years ago when my now husband was finishing grad school that we started talking about me opening up my own business. We knew we would be less reliant on my salary so it seemed like the perfect time to start. I knew I wanted to stay in weddings and special events but I wanted to be able to help as many people as possible (without having to work every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday). That's when I decided to pursue virtual planning full time. Unlike a lot of creative entrepreneurs, I didn't work at my business as a side hustle before starting it. Once we decided for me to follow my dream, I quit my job and starting pursuing business ownership full time.

Even though I had a dreamed of the day where I would start my own business, I don't think I ever fully understood how incredibly challenging it would be. Every day is something different and I experience the widest array of emotions from what seems like hour to hour. It's the hardest thing I've ever done but know it will be so worth it one day. My story could go into so much more detail, but I'll spare you for now 😄.

We're all about bold boss moments, tell us about one of yours!

The hardest question to answer! There are a couple that come to mind. First, before I started my business, I was voted runner-up Tallahassee's Best Wedding Planner my first year taking weddings. It might seem small but it was the validation I needed to know I could do anything. Second, having the nerve to tell my boss that I was quitting. I was shaking and thought I was going to throw up the whole time but once it was done, it was the most liberating thing I had ever done. Third, getting my first virtual planning client. It was right after the first bridal show I did and it was the most excited I have been to ever book a client in my life knowing I did it on my own.

What advice or words of encouragement do you have for the Bold Boss Tribe?

Don't give up. It's hard and it never really get's easier. There are days where you go from feeling like you're on top of the world to full on panic attack wondering how you're ever going to reach your goals. But just keep working and don't ever give up. The things you're doing now may seem worthless and like they aren't making a difference but they are. If you aren't there now, you'll get there one day. It will happen. You will be successful. You just can't give up.